What do you call a house with no hallway?

Shotgun houses are usually one room, or about 12 feet wide, and three or four rooms deep. The front door leads directly into the living room, then there are one or two bedrooms, and the kitchen is in the back. There are no hallways, so it's necessary to walk through one room to get to the next.

countryliving.com - So, What Exactly Is a Shotgun House? - Country Living Magazine

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The tiny house trend is in full force, with homeowners finding the appeal of living (really) small and even building their own tiny homes from DIY kits. (Amazon even sells them!). But diminutive dwelling is nothing new. Take a walk along the historic streets of New Orleans, and you'll see many examples of the original tiny home—the shotgun house. Shotgun houses, which gained popularity in the African American communities of New Orleans and other Southern cities like Charlotte, North Carolina, and Houston, Texas, in the early 19th century, are instantly recognizable for their small footprint. These one-room-wide single-story homes are situated close to their neighbors, so they don't have side windows. What they lack in square footage, they more than make up for in charm. Oftentimes these small homes have been painted in bright colors, and their welcoming front porches have been decked out with gingerbread trim.

While lots of examples remain, many historic shotgun houses have since been lost to urban renewal, but a newfound appreciation for their architectural significance is helping them get the recognition and restoration they deserve (Chip and Joanna Gaines even revamped one on Fixer Upper!). But you might be wondering what exactly makes a shotgun house, and where did that name come from?

Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi Bill Bachmann

So what's a shotgun house?

Shotgun houses were constructed with efficiency and affordability in mind. Developers built them with the goal of fitting as many houses as possible on smaller plots of land. Shotgun houses are usually one room, or about 12 feet wide, and three or four rooms deep. The front door leads directly into the living room, then there are one or two bedrooms, and the kitchen is in the back. There are no hallways, so it's necessary to walk through one room to get to the next. All of the doors line up, providing a welcome breeze in the warm Southern climates. Shotgun houses typically feature spacious gabled front porches, which encouraged socializing with the nearby neighbors. With this design, shotgun houses found inventive ways of fitting all of the necessities without much square footage. At the time they were built, there was no indoor plumbing, so bathrooms didn't exist. Most shotgun houses in use today have had bathrooms added on to the back.

Tim Graham

Where did the name "shotgun house" come from?

The answer isn't so straightforward. According to lore, shotgun houses got their name due to their linear design—theoretically a bullet shot through the front door could exit the back door without hitting anything. Others speculate the word “shotgun” is derived from the Yoruba word togun, meaning “house” or “gathering place.”

Kylie McLaughlin

What's this about a double-barrel shotgun house?

Double-barrel shotgun houses save even more space than a single shotgun house. They're basically a shotgun-style duplex, with two single shotgun houses located side by side and sharing a central wall and front porch. Katie Bowlby Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue

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Can Blocked gutters cause mould inside?

If you notice mould and mildew on your walls or ceiling, it could mean that your gutters are clogged. The mould and mildew in this case are caused by water sitting in the gutter after it rains.

fantasticgardeners.co.uk - The Most Common Issues Caused by Clogged Gutters

If you notice any of your gutter covers are missing, it could be an indication that the cover is clogged. When a gutter is clogged, water will begin to back up into the cover and eventually cause it to erode. This erosion will then cause the cover to fall off and be lost. If your gutter covers are missing, it could be that they need cleaning or that they were recently clogged. If you notice any of your gutters are clogged at the spout, it could mean that one of your downspouts isn't draining properly. This clog can also cause water to back up into the gutter and make other parts of it erode. If you notice any of your gutters have a clogged spout, it could also be an indication your gutters are clogged. Seeing holes in your ceiling can be a sign that you have a clogged gutter. This is typically caused by water building up on the underside of the roof and then overflowing into one of your gutters. One way to deal with this is by removing the debris around the gutter and running a hose up through the hole. This will drain the water out of the gutter and stop the pooling. If you notice mould and mildew on your walls or ceiling, it could mean that your gutters are clogged. The mould and mildew in this case are caused by water sitting in the gutter after it rains. If you notice this mould building up, you may want to have your gutters cleaned or replaced to avoid further issues with mould growth.